Differential driving-gearing for automobiles.



J. L. MORRIS.

DIFFERENTIAL DRIVING GEARING FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIB, 1910. I

5 2 W J d 6 b. n m D IN Vii/V TOR.

l V/ NLISSES STATES Josnrri L. MORRIS, or LAMAR, COLORADO.

DIFFERENTIAL DBIVING-GEARING FOR AUTOMOBILES.

My invention relates to improvements in differential driving gearing for automobiles.

One object of my invention is to provide .a structure which shall afiord a relatively large amount of clearance between the axle rotating mechanism and the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide in an automobile structure, employing two rotary axles disposed in axial alinement with each other, a frame work for supporting the axles and the differential gearing employed to drive the same which shall be exceedingly strong and compact. I A further object of my invention is to provide a differential driving gear structure, that receives its motive power from' the automobile engine at a' point of elevation horizontally in line with the crank-shaft of the engine, thereby eliminating the loss of power that is occasioned by the use of a shaft that is out of line with the engine crank-shaft. 4

Other features of my invention are hereinafter described and claimed.

In, the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 is a view partly in rear elevation, partly in vertical section, and partly broken away, showing my improved construction! Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the dotted line 04-11 of l ig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the dotted line ab of Fig. 1, the intermediate driving gear wheel bein removed. .Fig. 4: i a vertical section on t e dotted linecd 0 Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters denote similar parts. g I 1 denotes the usual horizontal rotary driving axles disposed in axial alinement with each other and having respectively secured thereto the carrying wheels 2, of the type commonly employed in automobiles.

For supporting the inner ends of the axles 1 I provide the following described mechanism':.Above the axles 1 and parallel therewith is a cylindrical bar 3 which ex tends horizontally through a vertical plane which separates the axles 1 and is disposed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 18, 1910. Serial No. 572,488.

Patented July 25, 1911 transversely at right angles thereto. Bearings for rigidly supporting the bar 8 are provided and preferably comprise each a block 4 having two horizontal semi-cylindrical recesses disposed one above the other. In the upper ones of said cylindrical recesses of the blocks 4 are tightly fitted respectively. the ends of the bar 3. In the lower recesses of the blocks 4 are rotatively mounted respectively the axles 1. Clamp ing plates 5 are respectively secured to the blocks 4 and embrace and tightly hold the bar 3 in the recesses in which it is fitted. Mounted ,inthe lower recesses of the blocks 42" are twohorizontal tubes 6 through which are rotatable on the bar 3 intermediate of the blocks 4. The'gear wheels 10 are provided on their adjacent sides with bevel gear teeth 11 which mesh with the teeth of mediate of the gear wheels -10 and in holes .13 provided in the web of a; rotary' member, comprising preferably a bevel driving gear wheel 14' the hub of which is rotatively mounted on the bar 3 intermediate of the gear wheels 10. Secured radially in the tend across the holes 13'and respectively support the pinions 12. Meshing with the 16 secured to a driving shaft 17, which is same plane asand at right angles to the bar suitable means, not shown, and connected with the eng1ne,.not shown.

An inclosmg casmg comprising'any suitdrawings I have'shown the casing as comprising t-wo shells'18 and'f19 disposed respectively above andbelow the tubes 6 to manner, as bythe screws 20, shown in Fig. 1. In the operation of my mventlon, when the driving shaft 17 is rotated,rotat1on Wlll tively mesh with two gear wheels 10 whichone or more bevel pinions 12 located inter preferably disposed horizontally and in? the.

able construction'may be employed to house the gearing hereinbefore described. In the' extend the axles 1 respectively. Boxings 7 4 Clamping wheel 14 are pins 15 which, respectively exbevel driving gear wheel 14. is a' bevel pinion 3. The driving shaftl? is rotated by any 100,

which they may be. secured in any desired 11o be'transmittedto the aXles I throughthe, t intermediary,ofthe pinion 16', driving gear v gear wheels 10 and gear the gear wheels 10 permit the wheels 2 to' turncurves without slipping.

By locating the bar 3 which carries the gear 14 above the axles 1 a large amount of clearance between the running parts of the gearing and the ground is obtainable, much more so than is obtainable with constructions in which the support for the large gear wheel 14 is disposed at the same plane as the axles. By employing a solid bar 3 supported rigidly in the blocks 4, avery strong and compact construction is afforded.

By disposing the driving shaft 17 in the same horizontal plane as the bar 3, and in alinement with the crank shaft of the engine, a greater saving of power is elfected, owing to the perfect alinement of the driving shaft with the engine crank-shaft, than is ob tained in the ordinary automobilestructure in which the driving shaft does not aline with the crank shaft.

Usually the-engine is disposed so high on i the machine relative to the support for the large ditiercntial gear wheel 1 that the driving shaft connecting the engine and pinion 16 must be disposed obliquely, thus 00- casioning the employment of knuckle joints or flexible connections. By disposing the bar 3 vertically above the axles l, the shaft 17 may be horizontally disposed in most in stances.

I do not limit my invention to the articular structure shown and described,'as various modifications may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

llaving thus described my invention, what l cla m and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is:

l in differential drivinggearing forautomobiles, two rotary axles disposed in axial alinement, a bar above and extending parallel with said axles through a plane transversely separating said axles, two members rigidly secured to and supporting said bar at opposite sides respectively of said plane, means encircling said axles for supporting said members, two gear wheels rotatable on said bar, means for transmitting rotation from said gear wheels respectively to said axles, a rotary driving member on said bar, and a pinion rotatively mounted on said member and meshing with said gearwheels.

2. In differential driving gearing for antomobiles, two rotary axles disposed-in axial alinement, a bar above and parallel with said axles and extending transversely through a plane separating said axles, two tubes encircling said axles, two members supported respectively by said tubes and rigidly secured to and supporting said bar, two gear wheels rotatable on said bar, means for transmitting rotation from said gear wheels respectively to said axles, a rotary driving member on said bar, and a pinion rotatively mounted on said member and meshing with said gear wheels.

3. In differential driving gearing for antomobiles, two rotary axles disposed. in axial alinement, a bar above and parallel with said axles and extending transversely through a plane separating said axles, two members rigidly secured to and supporting said bar at opposite sides respectively of said plane, means encircling said axles respectively for supporting said members, two gear wheels rotatable on said bar, means for transmitting rotation from said gear wheels respectively to said axles, a rotary driving member on said bar, a pinion rotatively mountedon said member and meshing with said gear wheels, a rotary driving shaft located. at right angles to and in the same plane as said ,bar,and nieansfor transmitting rotation from said shaft to said member.

4. In difierential driving gearing for automobiles, two rotary axles in axial alinement with each other, a bar above and parallel with said axles and extending transversely through a plane separating said axles, two members rigidly secured to and supporting said bar at opposite sides respectively of said plane, means encircling said axles for supporting said members, two. gear wheels rotatable on said bar, means for transmitting rotation from said gear wheels respectively to said axles, a driving gear wheel rotatable on said bar intermediate of said gear wheels, a pinion meshing with said two gear wheels and rotatively mounted on said driving gear wheel with its axis disposed radially relative to said driving gear wheel, a driving shaft located at right angles to and in the same plane as said bar,

and a pinion secured to said shaft and meshing with said driving gear wheel.

. 5. In differential driving gearing for automobiles, two horizontal rotary axles disposed in axial alinement with each other, a horizontal bar disposed parallel with and above said axles and extending through a plane separating said axles, two members rotatively supporting said axles and secured rigidly to said bar, two gear wheels'rotatable on said bar, means for transmitting r0- tation from'said gear wheels respectively to said axles, a rotary driving member on said bar, and a pinion meshing with said gear wheels and rotatable on said member.

6. In differential driving gearing for antomobiles, two rotaryhorizontal axles disposed in axial alinement with each other, a horizontal bar disposed parallel with and above said axles and extending through a plane separating said axles, two members rotatively supporting said axles and secured rigidly to said bar, two gear wheels rotatable on said bar, means for transmitting rotation from saidgear wheels respectiVely-to said axles, a rotary driving memher on said bar, a pinion meshing with said two gear wheels and rotatable on said member, a'horizantal driving shaft located at right anglesfio said bar and in the same plane therewith, and means for transmitting rotation from. said driving shaft to said member.

7 In differential driving gearing for antomobiles, two rotary axles disposed in axial alinement with each other, a bar disposed above and parallel with said axles and extending through a ,plane separating said axles, two members rotatively supporting said axles and secured rigidly to said bar, two gear wheels rotatable on said bar, a rotary member on said bar intermediate of said two gear wheels, a pinion meshing with said gear wheels and having its axis disposed radially relative 'tosaid member and carriedby said member, and two gear wheels secured respectively to saidaxles and meshing respectively with, said two .gear wheels. 8.111 differential driving gearing for antomobiles, two rotary axles disposed in axial alinement with each other, a bar disposed aboveand parallel with the said axles, two members. rotative-ly supporting said axles and secured rigidly to said her, a rotary driving member mountedor. said bar, and differential driving rnechanism connecting said member with said axles. I

9. In difierentialdriving gearing for automobiles, two rotary axles disposed in axial alinement with each other, a bar disposed above and. parallel withsaid axles, two members rotatively supporting said axles and secured rigidly to said bar, a rotary drivingmember mounted on said bar, differential driving mechanism connecting said member and said axles, a driving shaft axles, and a cylindrical bar haringits ends' secured rigidly to said castings for supporting axle driving mechanism.

12. In differential gearing for automobiles, two members, two axles rotatively mounted on members, and a connect- 'ing bar rigidly secured to saidmembcrs for 6:,

supportingaxle driving mechanism between said members.

In differential gearing for automobiles, two members, two axles rotatively mounted on said members respectively, and

a connecting bar rigidly secured to said members and disposed above said axles for supporting axle driving mechanism between said members.

14. In differential gearing for automobiles, a U shapedframethe arms of which comprise two members having means for respectively supporting two rotary axles, and the portion of the frame which connectsthe two arms of the frame comprising a bar rigidly secured at its ends to said arm members for supporting axle driving mechanism between said arms.

In testimony whereof I have signed. my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH L. MORRIS. vifiti'iesses:

CHARLES E. JoHNsoN, S. W. NoLAND. 

